Portable sewing machine



y 26, 1953 N. H. w. HUNTINGTON ,6 ,683

PORTABLE SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 3 Sheejzs-Sheet l May- 26, 1953 H. w. HUNTINGTON- 2, 68

PORTABLE SEWING MACHINE.

Filed Jan. 24, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE SEWING MACHINE Harry W. Huntington, Cranston, R. I.

Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,378

9 Claims. (01. 112-169) My invention relates to improvements in portable sewing machines.

Sewing machines of the standard well known type, have usually been mounted on stands which take up a substantial amount of room, require a person to sit down to operate them, and due to their inherent mechanism, take up a substantial amount of space.

Due to the above facts and the fact that people, particularly in cities, are living under crowded conditions, the use of sewing machines, particularly in the city, has greatly decreased.

An object of my invention is to provide a sew ing machine which can be used in every home even under the most crowded conditions, one which is self-contained, portable, light in weight, compact and readily manipulatable.

For this purpose, I provide a light, small housing of generally solid elliptical shape and having an elongated body for readily grasping in the palm of a hand, and a head having a narrow, transverse fabric receiving slot therein, containing the stitch forming means therein located above and below said slot, a thread supply in said housing suitably fed to said stitch forming means under tension, a small electric motor mounted in said housing, and suitable power transmitting means, including gear means operated by said electric motor for actuating the stitch forming means, said housing having a switch and cord means leading to a suitable source of electric supply such as a fioor plug.

A further object of my invention, due to the fact that all operating parts are contained within a single, light housing, is to provide a sewing machine which will positively work in poor light, may be operated by people with poor eyesight or children, automatically, with positively no danger of injury to the operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sewing machine which is so light in weight that it may be readily grasped in the users hand and used over long periods of time without fatigue to the user.

A further object of my invention, due to its particular construction of containing a complete spool of thread therein, is that it is always ready for use, needs no particular preparation to start, and will continue to give continuous stitches for the whole spool of thread, if necessary.

A further object of my invention, due to the use of a single unit spool already on the market as a source of thread supply, is that I eliminate the rewinding of any thread on bobbins or other devices formerly thought necessary in other types of sewing machines,

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which is so small and takes up so little room, that there is always room to store it even in the smallest city apartment, and which can readily have its operating cord wrapped around it and packed in a dress suitacase for traveling purposes, if desired.

A futher object of my invention is to provide a device which, as it is completely portable, can be used to reach heretofore inaccessible places in the manufacture or repair of clothes and which can be readily operated by the user in a standing or sitting position without the use of a stand, chair or table, and which'may even be used by the user to repair the clothes which she or another is wearing, and' which may be readily manipulated by the user to achieve all types or results. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which may be readily assembled and disassembled. v

A further object of my invention is to provid a device which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which, therefore, is well withinthe price range of any user.

A further object of myinvention is to provide a device which may be operated by any. standard type'of available current, such as A. C. or 110 D. C. and which is of such a low horsepower that the cost of operating it is substantially negligible.

A further object of my invention relates to the safety switch preferably employed. by me for positively preventing the operation'of the motor until the head is completely closed and locked in operating position.

A further object of my invention relates to the improved structure of housing and the location of parts to provide a device which will function mechanically while occupying a minimum amount of space, and to' be of lightweight;

A further object of my invention relates to the inherent construction of the parts which include gearing for the transmission and application of power, a novel feature in sewing machines, providing a construction which will function with a minimum amount of friction, pemitting the parts to last without replacement a substantially long period of time.

A further object of my invention elates to the fabric receiving slot, the height of which positively limits the thickness of material which may be inserted therein to positively prevent overloading of the small motor which might destroy the connections. v

tion of a needle plate 86 thereon in a manner to be described, and a bearing portion 88 projecting downwardly therefrom, having an axial shaft bearing hole 90 therein and a rear wall 92 having a central cut away portion 94 adjacent the lower edge thereof to permit pivoting of said head portion over the central transmitting pinion gear 96.

The lower complemental semispherical head portion 28 in the embodiment shown is permanently mounted on the lower portion of said body portion front wall 62 by screws, cement or in any other suitable manner and also has agenerally hollow interior having the bearing portion 98 projecting upwardly therefrom, having the axial shaft bearing hole I therein and the rear wall I02 having the central open portion I04 therein and a top wall I06, in the embodiment shown having a narrow rear portion I08 on which said pivoted upper head portion 22 may rest, having the central transverse pinion gear receiving slot IIO therein and the downset front portion II2 providing, with the lower wall II4 of said top portion, the transverse fabric receiving slot I8 of said head, having a transverse fabric feeding means slot II6 therein. While I have shown the slot 48 provided by the downset portion H2 of the top wall I06 of said lower head portion, it is obvious that said fabric receiving slot may be provided entirely in said upper head portion or partially between said upper and lower head portions.

I will now describe generally how the parts of my improved mechanism are mounted in the various compartments of the housing. As stated, the electric motor 40 is provided in the electric motor holding compartment 56. While any suitable type of a, small horsepower electric motor may be provided, I have shown in the drawings a suitable type for this purpose. The motor comprises the U-shaped stator II8, having the U base I20 and spaced U arms I22 projecting forwardly therefrom. The U base has the magnetizing coil I24 wrapped around it to provide a magnetic field between the forwardly projecting arms I22 thereof. Suitable rotor supporting plates I26 are joined to opposite sides of said U arms I22 and are provided with suitable bearing holes I28 therein for mounting the bearing shaft I30 of the rotor I32 thereon. The far side of the rotor shaft I30 is provided with the power transmitting bevel gear I34 thereon. The opposite end of said shaft I30 is flattened as at I36 on diametrically opposite sides thereof.

Said motor is provided with a double blade or pole, make and break timing mechanism. actuated by said rotor shaft. For this purpose a supplemental insulating plate I38 joins the near sides of said U arms I22 adjacent the coil I20 and has fixedly mounted thereon the spring blades I40 which project forwardly on each side of said flattened end I36 of said rotor shaft I30 and terminate forwardly thereof in the inwardly projecting contacts I42. It is thus obvious that on each revolution of the rotor shaft I30, the contacts I42 are in contact with each other twice, as the flat portions I36 are contained between the spring blades I40, but that said contacts I42 are also broken twice during each revolution of the shaft, thus creating the cycle of magnetic force, as the elongated portions I44 between said flattened portions I36 also spread the spring blades I40 twice during each revolution of said shaft I30.

The make and break operating switch 44 comprises the resilient fixed blade I46 rigidly mounted in said body I4 in the rear end of said switch button slot 54 to project forwardly therefrom underneath said switch button slot 54 and termi' nates in a front end I48 projecting first upwardly and then forwardly and has the contact I50 on the upper surface thereof just prior to said upward bend. The normally movable resilient blade I52 is also mounted in said body portion adjacent the rear end of said switch button slot 54 above said fixed blade I46 to project forwardly within said slot 54 and has the switch button or handle I56 mounted on the upper surface thereof to project outwardly through said slot 54. With this construction, it is obvious that when the switch button I56 is pressed. inwardly, the movable blade I52 will be urged downwardly to abut the contact I50 of said resilient fixed blade I46 to complete the circuit through said switch, but that when said upper head portion 22 is pivoted to an open position, the rearwardly projecting lug 18 thereof will strike the forward projection I48 of said resilient fixed blade I46 to urge it downwardly so that depression of the switch button I 56 will not depress the movable blade I52 far enough downwardly to make contact with the depressed fixed blade I46, so that it will be impossible to close the switch on manipulation of the button I 56 while the pivoted head portion 22 is open.

I provide the two wire cable 42 with a male element I58 of an electric terminal adapted to be plugged in to the female element thereof permanently mounted on the wall of the building. Said cable 42 extends through the hole 52 in the rear end of said body I4 and has one terminal I60 thereof connected to one end of said coil I24 and the other terminal I62 thereof connected to said movable switch blade I52. A wire I64 connects the opposite coil terminal to one blade I40 of said make and break timing mechanism and the wire I66 connects the other blade'I40 of said make and break timing mechanism to the fixed blade I46 of said make and break switch 44.

As stated, one feature of. my invention relates to the novel type of means I employ for transmitting power forwardly to the stitch forming mechanism hitherto described, which, in my preferred embodiment, comprises rigid positive gearing. As stated, I provide the large bevel gear I34 mounted on the end of said motor rotor shaft I30 at the opposite side of said housing from said spool holding compartment 32. As gear ing to transmit the motion of said motor forwardly, I provide the relatively largebevel gear I68 preferably of greater diameter than the length of said spool holding compartment 32, having the shaft I10 mounted in suitable bearings I12 on the inner wall .58 of said spool holding compartment 32 andopposite housing wall 60, in mesh with said bevel gear I 34.

I provide a suitable transmission shaft I14 extending through the bearing hole 68 in the front wall 62 of said body portion I4 having an enlarged bevel gear I16 on the rear end thereof in mesh with said axially extending bevel gear I68 and a common pinion drive gear 96 on the front end thereof within said head portion.

As my novel type of mechanism to reciprocate the needle 38, I provide the needle moving drive plate 86 vertically reciprocally mounted in the channels 85 provided by the lips 84 on the inner walls of the guide portion adjacent the central slot82 therein to reciprocate'vertically in said channels, and I provide said drive plate with the slotted externally threaded hollow needle holding projection I80 projecting downwardly centrally thereof, and I provide the externally threaded knurled nut I82 threadedly mounted thereon to clamp it around the upper end of a needle 38 contained within the hollow interior thereof for securing the upper end of said needle within said slotted projection. I provide a needle drive shaft I86 mounted in the axial bearing hole 99 in said upper head projection 88, having a driven pinion gear I86 mounted on the rear end thereof in mesh with said common drive pinion 96 and a front end first bent radially outwardly as at I88, and then having a tip I90 bent forwardly to move laterally within said slot I18 in said reciprocating needle holding drive plate 86 to provide an eccentric actuating pin to vertically reciprocate said needle plate 86 and contained needle 38 on each revolution of said drive shaft. As stated, this portion of my stitch forming means is mounted in said upper head portion 22.

As stated, the fabric feeding mechanism and stitch looping mechanism are located in said lower head portion 28. For this purpose, I provide a fabric feeder having .a plate I92 at the upper end thereof, having its upper edge serrated as at I94 in a manner to provide flat toothed edges facing towards the desired direction of travel of the fabric. Said fabric feeding plate I92 is provided with the elongated slot I96 for receiving the end of a needle 38 therein while being reciprocated. Said plate I92 is provided with the leg I98 projecting downwardly centrally thereof, having a bearing hole 299 centrally thereof and a vertical pivot pin receiving slot 2&2 adjacent the lower end thereof. vided for the lower head portion 28 mounted in said axial bearing hole I60 in said lower head bearing projection 98, having a driven pinion gear 206 mounted on the rear end thereof in mesh with said central common drive gear 96 and a front end bent first radially outwardly as at 208 and then forwardly terminating in the tip ZIII projecting through said fabric feeding leg hole 209 to provide an eccentric pin am for rotating said fabric feeding plate I92.

To restrain the lower end of said lug, I provide the pivot pin, in the embodiment shown comprising the screw 2I2 projecting laterally forwardly from said lower portion and extending through said vertical leg slot 262. It is thus obvious that said feeding plate I92 and leg I98, pin 2I0 and pivot pin 2I2, form the fabric feeding means for rotation of the plate I92 forwardly in its slot at the desired portion of each cycle of revolution of the master transmission drive gear 96.

The thread looping mechanism 26 comprises the looper 214 having diametric arms 2H5 and 2 I 8, having edges curved to loop the thread at the desired portion of each stitch forming cycle, rigidly mounted on the front end of said eccentric pin portion 2H3 to be revolvable therewith. Said looping mechanism is of standard shape and one of said arms 2I 8 thereof may have the projecting tips 220. and 222 for the usual thread looping purposes. It is thus obvious that both the fabric feeding mechanism 2 3, as explained, and the thread looping mechanism 26 p form the r fun n et rqush th med um. o the comm n drive pin. ZIII' rotat d by the common, drive shaft 204 The drive shaft 294 is proand common gear 205 from the master drive pinion 96.

If desired, a spring 226 may be rigidly mounted on the lower edge of said guide portion and provided with a downwardly curved portion 228, having a needle receiving hole 230 therein to urge the fabric 232 downwardly against the serrated upper surface I 94 of the fabric feeding plate I also provide a novel type of device for urging the needle sharply upwardly from the fabric, in the embodiment shown comprising a flat spring 234 secured to the opposite end of the lower edge of said guide portion 80, having an inwardly projecting end 236, having a needle receiving hole 23!! therein adapted to be bent downwardly by said nut I82 as it is urged downwardly on reciprocation of the needle, to urge said nut I82 and attached needle 38 sharply upwardly away from said fabric when said nut I82 is no longer urged downwardly by the tip IElIl.

I also provide a thread tension device, in the embodiment shown and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprising the two relatively movable discs 2% and 242 having suitable holes for mounting on the threaded screw 24d, normally urged against each other by the spring 2% interposed between the outermost disc and the head 248 of said screw 244, which fits into a suitable hole 2&5, in the embodiment shown in the front wall 62 of said head. It is obvious, however, that any other suitable type of thread tensioning device may be employed.

When first used, the thread 3% is threaded through the thread hole 66, in between the discs 2 3i) and 2M and through the hole 35 in the needle 38, with the spool 3;! being loosely mounted in said spool holding compartment 32, with the upper head portion 22 being suitably raised for this purpose. During this operation, any depression of the switch button I58 will not permit the motor to start, due to the fact that the projection I8 moves the fixed contact blade I45 out of position for any contact of the movable blade I52 therewith.

When, however, the upper head portion 22 is closed so that it may be latched in position by the male snap fastener projections 252, projecting upwardly from the rear end Hi8 of said upper wall portion I06 of said lower head portion 28, fitting into suitable female sockets 258 on the lower edge of said upper head portion 22, then the device is safe to operate and may be grasped in the palm of the hand 48 and brought adjacent the fabric 232 as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 illustrates a hem 2% being formed in the fabric. The edge of the fabric is first looped over to provide the lapped portion 25% which is then inserted transversely in the slot It in the head of my improved sewing machine, the switch button I56 is depressed, causing the motor to operate, causing the stitch forming mechanisms to operate in the manner explained and the fabric 232 acted upon may be held in the opposite hand while the first hand d8 guides the sewing machine I I3 relative to the fabric, the machine itself oper ating to feed the fabric transversely through the transverse slot I8. It is obvious that the invention maybe operated with complete safety as long as the upper head portion 22 is closed and the device may be used in almost any position. .W hen the stitch 253 is completed, the tread may be cut as usual and the sewing machine is ready for another job. It need not be ret-hreaded until it is, desired to insert a new source of thread supply or spool 30 within the spool holding compartment 32.

It is apparent that I have provided a novel type of sewing machine with the advantages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electric sewing machine for hand operation, comprising a hollow housing having an elongated body section and a head section, said head section having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being vertically spaced from each other to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the upper portion including a drive shaft, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion including a drive shaft parallel to the needle reciprocating mechanism drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism keyed on the thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body for supplying thread to said needle, an electric motor in said body, an electric circuit connection for activation of said motor from an external power source, and gearing operatively connecting said motor to the drive shafts of the needle reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms.

2. An electric sewing machine for hand operation, comprising a hollow housing having an elongated body section and a head section, said head section having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being vertically spaced from each other to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the upper portion including a drive shaft, means for detachably mounting a needle therein, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion including a drive shaft parallelto the needle reciprocating mechanism drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism, means for reciprocating the fabric feeding mechanism mounted on the thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body for supplying thread to said needle, an electric motor in said body, an electric circuit connection for activation of said motor from an external power source, and gearing operatively connecting said motor to the drive shafts of the needle reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms.

3. An electric sewing machine for hand operation, comprising a hollow housing having an elongated body section and a head section, said head section having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being vertically spaced from each other to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the upper portion including a drive shaft, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion including a drive shaft parallel to the needle reciprocatin mechanism drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism keyed on the thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body for supplying thread to said needle, an electric motor in said body, an electric circuit connection for activation of said motor from an external power source, gearing operatively connecting said motor to the drive shafts of the needle reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms, and manually movable switch means on the body for opening and closing said electric circuit.

4. An electric sewing machine for hand operation, comprising a hollow housing having an 10 elongated body section and a head section, said head section having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being vertically spaced from each other to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the upper portion including a drive shaft, means for detachably mounting a needle therein, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion including a drive shaft parallel to the needle re-' ciprocating mechanism drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism, means for reciprocating the fabric feeding mechanismmounted on the thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body for supplying thread to said needle, an electric motor in said body, an electric circuit connection for activation of said motorfrom an external power source, gearing operatively connecting said motor to the drive shafts of the needle reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms, and manually movable switch means on said body for opening and closin the electric circuit.

5. An electric sewing machine for hand operation, comprising a hollow housing having an elongated body section and a head section, said head section having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being vertically spaced from each other to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the upper portion including a drive shaft, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion including a drive shaft parallel to the needle reciprocating mechanism drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism keyed on the thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body for supplying thread to said needle, anelectric motor in said body, an electric circuit connection for activation of said motor from an external power source, gearing operatively connecting said motor to the drive shafts of the needle reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms, manually movable switch means on said body for opening and closing the electric circuit, and

spring means normally urging said switch means to circuit open position.

6. An electric sewing machine for hand operatmg, comprising a hollow housing having an elongated body section and a head section, said head section having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being vertically spaced from each other to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the upper portion including a drive shaft, means for detachably mounting a needle therein, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion including a drive shaft parallel to the needle reciprocating mechanism drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism, means for reciprocating the fabric feeding mechanism mounted on the thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body for supplying thread to said needle, an electric motor in said body, an electric circuit connection for activation of said motor from an external power source, gearing operatively connecting said motor to the drive shafts of the needle reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms, manually movable switch means on said body for opening and closing said electric circuit, and spring means normally urging said switch means to circuit opening position.

7. An electric sewing machine for hand operat1on, comprising a hollow housing having an elongated body section and a head section, said head section having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being vertidecades;

call'y'sfpaced from each other toprovide" a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the upper-portion including a drive shaft and a driven pinion gear mounted on said drive shaft, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion including a driveshaft parallel to the needle reciprocating mechanism drive shaft and a driven pinion gear mounted on said drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism keyed onthe thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body'for-supplying thread to saidneedle, an: electric motor in said body, an electric circuit connection for activation of saidmotor from an external power source, and gearing operatively connecting said motor to the piniongears'ofthe needle reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms. V

8 An electricsewingmachine for handopera-- tion; comprising ahollow housing having an elongated body-section and a head section, saidhead section having anupper-portion'and-a lower portion, said upper portion being pivotally mounted onsaid'body for movement to'open-and'to closed position with respect to the lower portion; said upperan'dl'ower portions being vertically'spaced froin'ea'ch other when the upper portion is piveta-11y mounted in closed position to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mech anism in the upper portion including a drive shaft and a drivenpinion gear mounted on'said drive shaft, thread looping mechanism in the lower portion inciuding a drive shaft parallel to: the needle reciprocating mechanismdrive shaft andadriven'pinion gear mounted on' said drive-shaft; fabric feeding mechanism keyed on the-thread looping drive shaft and'extending'into said slot; means in said'body for supplying'thread to-said needle, anelectric motor in'said body, an eiect'ri'c circuit connection for activation of said motorfroman-external'power'source; gearing operatively' connecting said motor to the pinion gearsofthe needle reciprocating and threadloopmgmechanisms when the upper portion is in closed position.

9. electric'se'wing machine for hand opera?- tion, comprising a hollow housing having: an elongated body section and a head section, said head' section having an upper portion and-a lower portion, said upper portion being pivota-lly mounted onsaid body'for movement to: open and to closed position with respect to the lower portion, said upper and lower'port-ions being vertically spaced from each other when the upper portion is pivotally mounted in closed po'sition to provide a fabric receiving slot, needle reciprocating mechanism in the'upp'er portion including a drive shaft and a driven pinion gear mountedon said-drive shaft, fabric feeding mechanism keyed on the thread looping drive shaft and extending into said slot, means in said body for supplying thread to said needle, an electric. motor in said body, an: electric circuit: connection for active tionof said motor from: an external powersource, gearing operativelyconnecting said: motor to the pinion gears of the needle" reciprocating and thread looping mechanisms when the upper portion is in closed position, and: manually movable switch meanson said body for opening and closing. said circuit; said switch means being inoperative when said upper portion" is in open position.

HARRY W. HUNTINGTON;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,650,911 Schneider Nov. 29,192? 1,917,162 Smith July 4, 1933 2,129,559 Blackwell Sept. 6, i938 2A26,636 Monroe Sept. 2, 1947 2,573,499 Scott Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 398,953 Germany July 18, 1924 

